New homes typically have a higher sales price than comparable existing homes, and buyers are usually willing to spend more on a new home because of lower maintenance costs. Builders' warranties on new homes, when combined with a new roof, appliances, and major systems, usually make major repairs unnecessary and help to counter a slower initial rate of appreciation.

Census Bureau Housing Surveys suggests that operating costs are lowest for brand new homes and slightly higher for relatively new existing homes. Operating costs per square foot of living space are consistently higher for progressively older existing homes. Utility costs represent the largest factor in operating costs. Energy consumption per square foot depends on the size of the home, the insulation and quality of the windows, air leakage and the efficiency of the furnace.

New homes require fewer expenditures for routine maintenance. The cost of maintenance first increases with age, then declines, so you will generally spend less maintaining a home built before 1960 than for a home built between 1970 and 1975.

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Ricklie Stone and Ron Waxman
Coldwell Banker Bain
1200 Westlake Ave. N. #406
Seattle, WA 98109
"The Results You Need"
Ricklie: 206.216.3445
Ron: 206.353.7107
Fax: 206.284.6317
RicklieandRon@SeattleResults.com

Ricklie and Ron serve clients in all of Seattle's urban neighborhoods including Downtown, Belltown, South Lake Union, Queen Anne, Magnolia, Ballard, Sunset Hill, Fremont, Wallingford, Green Lake, Maple Leaf, Ravenna, Roosevelt, Wedgwood, Laurelhurst, Windermere, Jackson Park, Pinehurst, Olympic Hills, Lake Forest Park, Capitol Hill, Denny Blaine, Montlake, Madison Valley, Madison Park, Central District, Leschi, Madrona, Mt. Baker, Columbia City and West Seattle. Additionally, we work the eastside from Bellevue to North Bend and north of Seattle from Shoreline to Edmonds. We are experts in transacting single home homes, townhomes, condominiums, co-ops and investment properties. We're passionate about real estate and that translates into results for our clients. For THE RESULTS YOU NEED, contact Ricklie and Ron, SeattleResults.com.